The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-28
A SOLDIERS, MONUMENT.

Among the matters claiming the attention
Of the Legislature at this session there is mono
of more general interest than the proposition
for soldiers monument. The idea has been
working in the popular mind for many years.
There has been, and is, a universal feeling
that the State owes it to itself and to its
soldiers to erect monument to their memory.
This feeling is partly matter of the highest
sentiment and partly the expression of strict
sense of justice. 1t is now nearly twenty-five
years since the war closed. The part that In
diana bore in the contest, the place she filled,
has become a matter of history. 1t is not
necesss y to recapitulate it. Enough to say
it was such as to reflect upon the State i'm
mortal honor and renown. For the place she
holds and will forever hold in history, for the
far reaching light that will forever shine from
the pages of her war record, she owes to her
soldiers debt Of gratitude that
can never be paid. All nations in all
times have recognized the justice Of
thus concentrating the memories of
those who have fought and died or fought and
conquered for them. The governments Of
Europe have erected many monuments to
their great military and naval commanders
but they have remembered also their soldiers,
the rank and file and reared to their men,
cries many beautiful and costly memorials of
marble and bronze. It should not be left to
the historian to record that republics are less
grateful in this regard than monarchies, least
of all republic that owes as much to its SOL
| diers and is so amply able to do them monu-
| mental honor as Indiana. Nor should it be
said that the Northern people are less grateful
| than those of the South. A number of
Southern States and cities have erected costly
monuments to their soldiers. The city of
New Orleans has expended not less than $780,
900 in this way-more than twice as much as
is asked from the great State of Indiana
which could expend ten times the amount ex-
pended by the Southern city and not feel it a
tenth as much. The bill pending in the Leg
lSldtuIo WAS prepdreu uuu0r tu6 UlroCClOl Oh
the Grand Army Of the Republic, and voices
the sentiment not only Of that organizatio on
but of the people at large. It is not suscepti
BILE of partisan, local or narrow construction
and to give it such would be unjust and un
patriotic. In the name Of Indiana's soldiers
dead and living, and on behalf of more thar
two millions of people who share in the honor
they brought the State, the Legislature ii
asked to appropriate 100000 for soldiers
monument The sum asked for is littlt
enough for the purpose. The State would
honor itself by appropriating twice the amount
and erecting amonument that would advertis.
it at home and abroad. To talk Of less thar
5000, 900, or Of halving or quartering it ana
building several monuments, is simply trifins
with serious subject There should be bu
one monument, and it should be at the cap
ital Of the State, where all the soldiers wer,
mustered in and where all who lived to com,
home were mustered out. If there is any
moro fitting place for commemorative monu
; ment let 1t be named. If there is any spot il
the State moo closely identified with its wa,
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